Southwestern Indian Weaving [SOLD]

From the Book

Prehistoric weaving traditions in the Southwest, which evolved over thousands of years, were rich and varied. Despite the ravages of time and pothunting, several thousand prehistoric textile specimens have been recovered from the Greater Southwest. Using many variations of six basic methods of weaving-interlacing, twining, crossing and recrossing, wrapping, looping, and linking-prehistoric weavers in the Southwest created a dizzying array of woven objects including mats; cordage; twine; straps; sandals; storage, gathering, parching, winnowing, water, and cooking baskets; shirts; carrying bags; leggings; garters; dresses; skirts; belts; sashes; kilts; and breechcloths.

Colors were dyed-in, resist-dyed, tie-dyed (A.D. 110), painted (A.D. 900), and stamped (A.D. 1100). Colors used by these early weavers included red, yellow, blue, purple, black, brown/black, brown, green, yellow-brown, purplish red, orange, and pink. Cochineal, a dye derived from an insect, is most commonly mentioned as the only source of red, and indigo-a plant dye-as the only source of blue, but in fact there were other sources, including lac (another insect) for red and red clover for blue. Murex and purpura shells were a source for purple, and copper oxide for blue-green.

The range of materials used was equally impressive in its inventiveness and diversity. Those used included agave, yucca, milkweed, willow, juniper bark, sotol, bear grass, hemp, mesquite, human hair, animal fur-including bison, bighorn sheep, and domesticated dog-rabbit skin strips (the fur is too fine to be spun itself so strips were woven around yucca fiber cores), turkey feathers, and finally, cotton.